The Film Independent Spirit Awards Are Adding Categories for Creators and International Features

Fresh off the news of its biggest grant yet, Film Independent has announced its Spirit Awards are expanding.

The 2027 Film Independent Spirit Awards will be the first to include the new Best International First Feature category and a new Digital Creator Award. Additionally, the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) has been added as a qualifying festival. 

Eligibility for Best International First Feature will be determined by international films that are the director’s narrative feature debut. These additions are said to reflect Film Independent’s continued commitment to recognizing independent filmmaking and creating pathways for distinctive work from storytellers around the world.

The 2027 Spirit Awards will also introduce a new Digital Creator Award category, expanding the celebration to independent storytellers creating original work for digital-first platforms and audiences. Joining the Emerging Filmmaker Awards, which include Someone to Watch, Truer Than Fiction, and Producers Award, the winning digital creator will receive a $25,000 unrestricted grant. The Digital Creator Award was developed in partnership with Max Reisinger, CEO and co-founder of Creator Camp — a media company that purports to support the next generation of digital storytellers — who will collaborate with the Spirit Awards team on the award’s implementation.

“Independent storytelling has never been confined to a single format, platform or geography and neither should the Spirit Awards. These new categories reflect the broader creative ecosystem we’re building at Film Independent — one that supports bold, original storytellers, from emerging digital creators to first-time international filmmakers,” said Juan Devis, the new Film Independent president, via statement. “They reaffirm our commitment to discovering and championing new voices throughout their creative journey, and a future for independent film as exciting as its past. As we gather at The Palladium next March, we’ll celebrate remarkable artists alongside the resilience, creativity and independent spirit of Los Angeles and the community that continues to inspire us.”

Submissions are now open through October. The nominees for the 2027 Spirit Awards will be announced on Wednesday, December 2. Additionally, the Nominee Brunch, an annual highlight where all nominees are celebrated and Emerging Filmmaker Awards are presented, including the new Digital Creator Award, will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2027 once again at The London West Hollywood. The 42nd annual Spirit Awards will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2027.

See the Spirit Awards submissions deadlines below.

Film
Early Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Regular Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Final Deadline: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Arts Circle, Filmmaker Pro, Secret Member, and Film Independent Fellows with Memberships Extended Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026

Television
Regular Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Final Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Arts Circle, Filmmaker Pro, Secret Member, and Film Independent Fellows with Memberships Extended Deadline: Friday, September 18, 2026

Digital Creators
Early Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Regular Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Final Deadline: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Arts Circle, Filmmaker Pro, Secret Member, and Film Independent Fellows with Memberships Extended Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026